Renowned landscape architect Lawrence Halprin’s designs reinvented American public space, ushering in a new form of urban ecology with modernist fountains, plazas, and green spaces. The tour begins in Portland’s Auditorium District, where a sequence of four fountains designed by the landscape architect 50 years ago weaves through three city blocks. These beloved public spaces began Portland’s love affair with outdoor civic space. Participants will walk through the interconnected spaces and hear a brief history of the landscape, including Halprin’s vision for the parks, a discussion of the notable public process involved in its design, and the innovative partnership behind restoration efforts. We will see how later projects, such as Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland’s Downtown affirm what Halprin started in the 1960s: nature in public spaces and walkways “nourishes the soul” and defines Portland’s character as a green city. Time will be reserved at the end of the tour to discuss the value and challenges of maintaining Halprin’s legacy in Portland.
This tour is led by Sarah Iannarone, a member of the non-profit Halprin Landscape Conservancy, which actively works to conserve Lawrence Halprin’s sequence of public parks. Sarah is a civic activist and expert in sustainable urban design and development. When she’s not volunteering with the Halprin Conservancy, she works at Portland State University in the First Stop Portland program, which hosts leaders from cities around the world interested in learning more about Portland’s best practices and civic innovations.
You can learn more and support the restoration of the Historic Halprin Sequence at halprinsequence.org. Along the tour, share your comments and photos on Twitter and Instagram at @HalprinSequence.
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